Some reverse the order of touching the parts of the face, as the following formula shows:—
(j)—"Broo brenty,
Ee winky,
Niz nappy,
Cheek cherry,
Moo merry,
Chin chappy."[1] (Pitsligo.)
Compare with this the Dutch rhyme beginning "Kintje";[2] "Formulettes du visage" (b, c, d, e, f );[3] and the Sicilian Varvarutteddu.[4]
(B)—"Knock at the Doorie."
In this amusement each part of the head is touched in a manner imitative of the action indicated by the words, and the line repeated. There are several variants[5] of the formula:—
(a)—"Knock at the doorie, (the brow)
Peep in, (the eye)
Lift the latch, (the nose)
Walk in, (the mouth)" (Mr. Moir, Keith.)
(b)—"Knock at the doorie,
Peep in,
Lift the sneckie,
Clean yir feeties.
An walk in." (Mrs. Moir, Kinnethmont.)
(c)—"Knock at the door,
Peep in.
Lift the sneck,
Jump in.
And shut the door behind you." (Mrs. Watson, Fraserburgh.)
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 20, Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales of England, by Halliwell, pp. 207-208.
- ↑ Nederlandsche Baker-en Kinderrijmen verzameld en meegedeeld door Dr. J. van Vloten, pp. 2-3, and p. 167 for additional references.
- ↑ Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance, by E. Rolland, pp. 17-19.
- ↑ Giuochi fanciulleschi Siciliani, raccolti e descritti da Giuseppe Pitré, pp. 45-46.
- ↑ Compare this with (a) of "Formulettes du visage" in Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance, by E. Rolland, p. 17.
